Landing and transfer net for use at sea.



J. A. STBINMETZ,

LANMNG AND TRANSFER Nm FOR USB AT SEA,

APPLICATION FILED APR. 30, 19M.

Pat-aiuter Feb. 9, l.

2 SHEETS-SHEET ly GCOOCCOO l, www@ (I7 v WIT/M8858 Patented Feb. 9, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Qoocooooocnoo i is JOSEPH A. STEINMETZ, OIF'PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

LANDING AND TRANSFER NET FOB. USE AT SEA.

Speolncatlcn of Letters Patent;

Patented Feb. 9, 19H5.

appiieauon med Api-ii so, i914. semi no. 835,454.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J osnrn A. Srninisfmz, a citize'n of the United States residing at Philadelphia in the count of lhiladelphia and State b Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Im rovements in Landia and Transfer Nets or Use at Sea, of whigh the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

The obects'of this invention are to 'provide for the safe replacement on board a vessel at sea of aeroplanes sent out therefrom, even in rough' weather, and further tc'provide for the safe transfer to small boats of persons lon board shi when such ship is burn' or likely to sin Statistics show that suc ships usually remain n fioat ier some time, often hours, afterthe seriousI ness of the conditions are full recognized,

and with smoothseas and a su cient equipment of small boats escape from the ship 'is fairl well assured. v But when the sea is rou safe launching of small boats fully loa is extremely difficult, and the near approach of boats from other ships is hardlfy less dangerous, for well known reasons. t follows that small boats from the ship in distress often'conne their efforts saving such persons as have left the ship and have been able to remain afloat. To avoid or' eatly 1 these evils is an end sought. the 'accompanyin drawin Fi re 1 shows in side view a ship rovi ed wi h my devices.---Fig. 2 is a similar view illustrative of transferring'persons from the same ship to small boats. Fig. 8 is a plan view of a portion of the ship and the devices connected therewith. Fig` 4 is a view similar to Fi 2 suggesting the action of' m devices un er certa section on th 'line 5--5, of Fig. B. 0

In these views,.A represents a shiphead to the wind, having attached to its stern portion, near the plane of the deck, one margin of a broad rectangular net B extendin to a considerable distance from the vesse its outer margin sustained by a series of oats X joined to eachy other by spacing flexible connections Y. The iiet preferably consists of a series of parallel exible cables D connected at their outer ends, and preferably at their inner ends also, by a tlexibletransverse cable D. The

and havin cables D are laterally connected to each other by a downwardly bellying network E ecial conditions. Iig. 5 is a paratively free from waves and in positioii to be hoisted onboard by ordinary means or to be drawn up by cables G extending -from the aeroplane or-froin the outer margin of the net to the ships deck and operated inan-y ually or by power, as may be desired. It may be observed that if the ship -lie advancing or if the ship be stationary nnd the wind be from the ship, the floats tend to keep the net fully extended. As indicated in Fig. 2, the same net serves as an inclined way for piu-sons passing from the ship to small boats brought near the rear portion of the net.

and temporarily held thereto by boat hooks or other suitable means. Obviously, the net automatically adjusts its inclination to any movements of the ship, as suggested in' Fig. 4, and many persons may pass quickly down this incline to the boats, the trough-like channels making it practically certain that none will pass ot the net and also tending 'to prevent massingkgf people at any point even should none ep their feet. At the same time, the margins of the net afford an excellent hold for any who may for any reason find themselves alongside the net. It is also lain that a large number of boats may be oaded at the same time, and that as fast as they are loaded that they may leave the net, while in case the ship should sink before the last boat has cast ot, the connection of such bont with the net may be instantly broken, the net of course following the sinking ship. The net is not necessarily attached to-'the stern, the usual davits,

'stanchions and the like affording ample facilities for attachment at any point that circumstances may make the most favorable.

The ships own boats may be launched without occu ants other than suitable crews for rowing t em to the net or for iding them thereto as they drift astern if gi; ship be advancing, and thus the diiculty of safe launching is minimized and the crushing of lOO boats by their poundingr against the ships side While heavily loaded is entirely avoided.

lNhat l claim is:

l. The combination with a ship, of a net having one margin attached to the ship near its deck and comprising a series of spaced approximately parallel cables gently curved in vertical planes, extending t0 and along the surface of the Water to some distance from the ship and laterally connected by a iexible network forming from end to end of the cables trough-like Ways along which persons While holding to the parallel cables may walk from the ship to the nets outer margin, and a series of ioats spaced apart and sustaining the outer margin of the net.

2. The combination with a ship, of a net adapted for allowing persons to Walk thereon, secured along one margin to the ship and having its distant opposite margin sustained by a series of floats, and a series of parallel 'ca-bles secured to the net and running, above the body of the net, from the ship to said distant margin forming a series of narrow alleys along which persons may walk while holding fast to said cables.

3. The combination with a ship, of a net secured along one margin to the ship and composed of spaced parallel flexible cables having their outer ends connected by a transverse cable and all connected laterally by a continuous flezble network, and a series of floats connected to the outer sid'c oi the structure and joined in series by spacing flexible connections.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH A. STEINMETZ.

Witnesses E. M. ocmw, H. G. VAN-Courir. 

